Stocker apparatus

ABSTRACT

A stocker apparatus includes a first tray stock section ( 70 ) for storing a plurality of empty trays ( 11   a ), a second tray stock section ( 80 ) for storing the plurality of empty trays ( 11   a ) loaded with products, tray supporting means ( 130 ) provided in the first tray stock section ( 70 ) and the second tray stock section ( 80 ) for mounting the trays ( 11 ) thereon, and lifting and lowering means for lifting and lowering the tray supporting means ( 130 ). The stocker apparatus further includes carrier means ( 140 ) for carrying the loaded tray to the second tray stock section ( 80 ). The stocker apparatus further includes an outer wall constituting member covering the first tray stock section ( 70 ) and the second tray stock portion ( 80 ) for shielding the first tray stock section ( 70 ) and the second tray stock section ( 80 ) from an external atmosphere.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stocker apparatus capable of loadingproducts on an empty tray and stocking many loaded trays stacked one onthe other.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a stocker apparatus is used, for example, when resin moldedarticles such as resin gears are manufactured by a resin moldingapparatus. The stocker apparatus loads on an empty tray existing thereinthe molded articles manufactured by the resin molding apparatus and thencarried by an external carrier such as a robot or the like, and stocksmany trays, which are loaded with the molded articles, stacked one onthe other.

A currently available stocker apparatus includes a first tray stocksection where empty trays are stocked and a second tray stock sectionwhere loaded trays are stocked. In the first tray stock section, manyempty trays are stocked, stacked one on the other. The stocker apparatusfurther has lifting and lowering means which lift and lower the traysexisting in the first tray stock section and the second tray stocksection, and carrier means for carrying the loaded trays to the secondtray stock section.

The stocker apparatus is provided in a manner to be open to the outsidewith the trays and the molded articles being exposed to an externalatmosphere.

Incidentally, stocker apparatuses described in documents include onedescribed in, for example, Japanese Padent Laid-open No. Hei 6-9016,though it is of a different type. However, there is no other documentknown at present which describes a stocker apparatus of theabove-described type in which many trays are stacked one on the other.Note that the stocker apparatus is also called as a stock system or astocker.

Incidentally, in the current stocker apparatus, the empty trays and theloaded trays are stacked in a manner to be open to the outside. Inaddition, when the resin molded articles are manufactured, a crusherthat crushes a runner (unnecessary portion) separated from the resinmolded articles is often installed, creating an environment containingmuch dust.

For this reason, if the stocker apparatus is exposed to the atmospherecontaining much dust such as in a factory, much dust adheres to a trayand a loaded tray stacked at the uppermost tier. If dust adheres to theaforementioned tray and the loaded trays, the dust actually adheres tothe manufactured molded articles, and the adhesion of dust is notpreferable from the aspect of sanitary especially when the moldedarticles are containers for food (for example, egg cases and so on madeof resin).

Further, adhesion of dust to, for example, precision electroniccomponents and so on will cause defects. For this reason, the moldedarticles for precision products sometimes need to be cleanedsufficiently prior to being assembled as products.

Besides, downsizing of the stocker apparatus itself has not been underconsideration since the current stocker apparatus cooperates with largeresin molding apparatus and external carrier, and therefore even a largestocker apparatus is acceptable. As a result of this, the stockerapparatus generally occupies a large space. This brings about a problemof installation of a stocker apparatus not being allowed wheninstallation space is limited.

Furthermore, the current stocker apparatus is expensive relative to itsfunction of simple loading. Stocker apparatuses may be, for example, asexpensive as a resin molding apparatus and, in some case, more expensivethan a resin molding apparatus. In a field of resin molding, however,the stocker apparatus is handled as an apparatus attached to the resinmolding apparatus, and accordingly the function and cost aresufficiently examined for the resin molding apparatus, whereas thestocker apparatus has been employed without sufficient considerationeven if it is slightly expensive.

The present invention has been developed based on the above-describedcircumstances, and its object is to provide a stocker apparatus capableof loading products on trays with the products and trays kept clean. Inaddition to the above-descried object, an object of another invention isto provide a stocker apparatus capable of reducing in size and cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A stocker apparatus of the present invention includes: a first traystock section capable of stocking a plurality of empty trays; a secondtray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of loaded trays, theloaded trays being the empty trays loaded with products; tray supportingmeans provided in the first tray stock section and the second tray stocksection respectively for supporting the trays; lifting and loweringmeans for lifting and lowering the tray supporting means; and carriermeans for carrying the loaded tray to the second tray stock section whenthe products are loaded on the empty tray existing in the first traystock section, the apparatus further including: an outer wallconstituting member covering at least side surfaces and upper surfacesof the first trays stock section and the second tray stock section toseparate the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionfrom an external atmosphere; an opening provided at an upper portion ofthe first tray stock section, the opening allowing the products to becarried in therethrough; an ionizer provided near the opening, theionizer jetting ionized air to the products carried in through theopening, the products then being loaded on the empty tray; and an aircleaning means provided at an upper portion of the second tray stocksection, the air cleaning means cleaning outside air and thenintroducing the air into the second tray stock section.

The outer wall constituting member is provided as described above,whereby the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionexisting in the stocker apparatus are shielded from the externalatmosphere. This can prevent dust from adhering to the trays stocked inthe first tray stock section and the second tray stock section even whenthe external atmosphere contains a large amount of dust. Further, it isalso possible to prevent the dust from adhering to the products loadedon the empty tray.

Further, the opening provided at the upper portion of the first traystock section allows the products to be carried in through the opening,and the opening is provided at a part of an area formed by the outerwall constituting member, whereby the opening portion communicating withthe outside can be minimized.

Further, the ionizer is provided near the opening so that the ionizedair is blown to the products when the product passes through theopening. This can remove the dust adhering to the products. Inparticular, dust apt to adhere to charged products no longer adheres tothe products by eliminating electricity from the products by the ionizedair. Further, the ionized air can also be used to perform sterilizationtreatment on the products.

Furthermore, the air cleaning means is provided at the upper portion ofthe second tray stock section, thereby cleaning air taken in from theoutside and then supplying the air into the second tray stock section.Thus, in the second tray stock section, the cleaned air moves downwardfrom above, thus keeping the atmosphere therein clean.

Further, in the stocker apparatus of the present invention, in additionto the above-described invention, the outer wall constituting memberincludes a frame, an elastically deformable sealing member abutting onthe frame in a longitudinal direction thereof, a panel member abuttingon the sealing member, and a pad member abutting on the panel member ina manner to cover an outer edge thereof and fixedly attached to theframe member to thereby elastically hold the panel member with thesealing member therebetween.

In this invention, the outer wall constituting member can seal theinside of the stocker apparatus without generating dust from screw holesand so on when panel members are attached. This can prevent dust fromentering the inside of the stocker apparatus from the outside and thepanel member portion, thus stocking the trays and the products loaded onthe trays in a clean state.

Further, in the stocker apparatus of the present invention, in additionto the above-described stocker apparatus, each of the lifting andlowering means has four annular belts for supporting each of the traysupporting means at four points, the annular belt being formed bysuperposing one end on another end of a straight belt having both theends and fixedly holding the ends by a both end fixing member, and theboth end fixing member being located outside a winding round of theannular belt.

In this invention, the both end fixing member is used to fixedly holdthe straight belt with its both ends superposed, whereby the belt lengthof the annular belt can be freely set by arbitrarily adjusting thelength where the one end side and the other end side are superposed.This eliminates the necessity to use an endless belt which is initiallyformed in an annular shape, resulting in reduced cost relative to use ofthe endless belt.

Further, the both end fixing member can be located outside the windinground of the annular belt to prevent the both end fixing member frominterfering with the pulley around which the annular belt is stretched.By preventing interference between the pulley and the both end fixingmember as described above, the driving distance of the annular belt towhich the tray supporting means is attached can be increased. Thisimproves the size efficiency of the stocker apparatus, which allows muchmore trays to be stocked therein. In addition, the stocker apparatus canbe reduced in size.

Furthermore, in the stocker apparatus of the present invention, inaddition to the above-described stocker apparatus of the invention, thestraight belt is a straight toothed belt, and one end side or anotherend side of the straight toothed belt is bent 180 degrees and then theone end side and the other end side are superposed and fixedly held bythe both end fixing member.

In this invention, the toothed belt is used and the one end side or theother end side thereof is bent 180 degrees and then one end side and theother end side are superposed, so that they are superposed with thetooth portions on the one end side and the tooth portions on the otherend side meshing with each other. The both end fixing member fixedlyholding the toothed belt in this state can prevent slippage of thetoothed belt and reduce the space of the superposed portion.

Further, a stocker apparatus of the present invention includes: a firsttray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of empty trays; asecond tray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of loadedtrays, the loaded trays being the empty trays loaded with products; traysupporting means provided in the first tray stock section and the secondtray stock section respectively for supporting the trays; lifting andlowering means for lifting and lowering the tray supporting means; andcarrier means for carrying the loaded tray to the second tray stocksection when the products are loaded on the empty tray existing in thefirst tray stock section, the apparatus further including: an outer wallconstituting member covering at least side surfaces and upper surfacesof the first trays stock section and the second tray stock section toseparate the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionfrom an external atmosphere; an opening provided at an upper portion ofthe first tray stock section, the opening allowing the products to becarried in therethrough; and an ionizer provided near the opening, theionizer jetting ionized air to the products carried in through theopening, the products then being loaded on the empty tray, wherein theouter wall constituting member includes a frame, an elasticallydeformable sealing member abutting on the frame in a longitudinaldirection thereof, a panel member abutting on the sealing member, and apad member abutting on the panel member in a manner to cover an outeredge thereof and fixedly attached to the frame member to therebyelastically hold the panel member with the sealing member therebetween.

In this invention, the outer wall constituting member is provided,whereby the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionare shielded from the external atmosphere, thus making it possible toprevent dust from adhering to the trays stocked in the first tray stocksection and the second tray stock section even when the externalatmosphere contains a large amount of dust. Further, it is also possibleto prevent the dust from adhering to the products loaded on the emptytray. Further, the opening is provided at a part of an area formed bythe outer wall constituting member of the upper portion of the firsttray stock section, whereby the opening portion communicating with theoutside can be minimized.

Further, the ionizer is provided near the opening so that the ionizedair is blown to the products when the product passes through theopening, thus removing the dust adhering to the products. Thiseliminates electricity from the products, so that charged dust or thelike no longer adheres to the products. Further, the ionized air canalso be used to perform sterilization treatment on the products.

Furthermore, the air cleaning means is provided at the upper portion ofthe second tray stock section, thereby cleaning air taken in from theoutside and keeping the atmosphere in the second tray stock sectionclean. Further, the inside of the stocker apparatus can be sealedwithout generation of dust from screw holes and so on when panel membersare attached. This can prevent dust from entering the inside of thestocker apparatus from the outside and the panel member portion, thusstocking the trays and the products loaded on the trays in a cleanstate.

Further, a stocker apparatus of the present invention includes: a firsttray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of empty trays; asecond tray stock section capable of stocking a plurality of loadedtrays, the loaded trays being the empty trays loaded with products; traysupporting means provided in the first tray stock section and the secondtray stock section respectively for supporting the trays; lifting andlowering means for lifting and lowering the tray supporting means; andcarrier means for carrying the loaded tray to the second tray stocksection when the products are loaded on the empty tray existing in thefirst tray stock section, the apparatus further including: an outer wallconstituting member covering at least side surfaces and upper surfacesof the first trays stock section and the second tray stock section toseparate the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionfrom an external atmosphere; and an opening provided at an upper portionof the first tray stock section, the opening allowing the products to becarried in therethrough, wherein each of the lifting and lowering meanshas four annular belts for supporting each of the tray supporting meansat four points, the annular belt being formed by superposing one end onanother end of a straight belt having both the ends and fixedly holdingthe ends by a both end fixing member, and the both end fixing memberbeing located outside a winding round of the annular belt, and whereinthe straight belt is a straight toothed belt, and one end side oranother end side of the straight toothed belt is bent 180 degrees andthen the one end side and the other end side are superposed and fixedlyheld by the both end fixing member.

In this invention, the outer wall constituting member is provided,whereby the first tray stock section and the second tray stock sectionare shielded from the external atmosphere, thus making it possible toprevent dust from adhering to the trays stocked in the first tray stocksection and the second tray stock section even when the externalatmosphere contains a large amount of dust. Further, it is also possibleto prevent the dust from adhering to the products loaded on the emptytray. Further, the opening is provided at a part of an area formed bythe outer wall constituting member of the upper portion of the firsttray stock section, whereby the opening portion communicating with theoutside can be minimized.

Further, the both end fixing member is used to fixedly hold the straightbelt with its both ends superposed, whereby the belt length of theannular belt can be freely set by arbitrarily adjusting the length wherethe one end side and the other end side are superposed. This eliminatesthe necessity to use an endless belt which is initially formed in anannular shape, resulting in reduced cost relative to use of the endlessbelt.

Further, the both end fixing member can be located outside the windinground of the annular belt to prevent the both end fixing member frominterfering with the pulley around which the annular belt is stretched.By preventing interference between the pulley and the both end fixingmember as described above, the driving distance of the annular belt towhich the tray supporting means is attached can be increased. Thisimproves the size efficiency of the stocker apparatus, which allows muchmore trays to be stocked therein. In addition, the stocker apparatus canbe reduced in size.

Further, the toothed belt is used and the one end side or the other endside thereof is bent 180 degrees and then one end side and the other endside are superposed, so that they are superposed with the tooth portionson the one end side and the tooth portions on the other end side meshingwith each other. The both end fixing member fixedly holding the toothedbelt in this state can prevent slippage of the toothed belt and reducethe space of the superposed portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and notintended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best beappreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a stockerapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a sightthrough manner to show its internal configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the stockerapparatus in FIG. 1, showing an appearance of trays existing therein andshowing a destaticizing blow portion of ionized air from an ionizer;

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the configuration of the stocker apparatusin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the stocker apparatusin FIG. 1, showing an appearance as seen from the side where an exhaustfan is provided;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the stocker apparatus in FIG. 1 as seen fromabove in a sight through manner to show an appearance of lid members anda state in which molded articles are mounted on a tray therein;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the stocker apparatus in FIG. 1 asseen from above, showing an appearance of a first tray stock sectionwith a driving portion being omitted and a second tray stock sectionincluding a driving portion;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an appearance of an out-cornerframe and a joint frame supporting plates in the stocker apparatus inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views each showing an appearance of a both endfixing member holding a straight toothed belt in the stocker apparatusin FIG. 1, FIG. 8A being its perspective view and FIG. 8B being apartial cross-sectional view of another example;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a configuration of a tray carryingmechanism in the stocker apparatus in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is plan view showing a configuration of a stocker apparatusaccording to a modification example of the stocker apparatus in FIG. 1,in which a first tray stock section and a second tray stock section arelongitudinally arranged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a stocker apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described based on FIG. 1 to FIG. 9. Note thatFIG. 1 shows the stocker apparatus 10 in a sight through manner to showa main internal mechanism.

The stocker apparatus 10 stocks in its inside empty trays 11(hereinafter, referred also to as empty trays 11 a) before moldedarticles 12 (see FIG. 5) as products are loaded, and loaded trays 11(hereinafter, referred also to as loaded trays 11 b) after the moldedarticles 12 are loaded. In addition to stock of the trays 11, thestocker apparatus 10 also prevents the trays 11 and the molded articles12 from being exposed to an external atmosphere containing much dust toclean the trays 11 and the molded articles 12. A structure of thestocker apparatus 10 will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2 through FIG. 4, the stocker apparatus 10 has asupporting base 13 to which later-described frames 20 and 40constituting a part of outer wall constituting member are attached, andthe supporting base 13 is provided with a plurality of leg portions 14projecting downward. The leg portions 14 support the whole stockerapparatus 10. In this embodiment, the leg portions 14 are fixed and notmoved easily, while wheels may be provided in place of the leg portions14 or the supporting base 13 to allow the stocker apparatus 10 to beeasily moved.

The stocker apparatus 10 is provided with a plurality of frames 20 and40 extending upward from the supporting base 13 as frame members formingthe main part of the outer wall constituting member. The frames 20 and40 are composed of aluminum structure material to have lightweight andbeautiful appearance. The frames 20 and 40 are, as shown in FIG. 7,out-comer frames 20 and joint frames 40. The out-comer frame 20 is to beprovided at a comer of the supporting base 13, and therefore a piece onone side of the out-comer frame 20 is rounded to form a curved comerportion 21. This is also effective in terms of prevention of injury. Thecomer portion 21 forms an outer edge portion of the stocker apparatus10.

The out-corner frame 20 is also provided with two plate fixing portions22 adjoining the comer portion 21 such that the plate fixing portions 22are perpendicular to each other. The plate fixing portion 22 is providedwith a pad abutting portion 23 and a packing abutting portion 24. On thepad abutting portion 23 of them, an S-pad 25 as a pad member, as shownin FIG. 7, is to abut. The S-pad 25 is made of, for example, resin, andthe S-pad 25 having an almost rectangular-shaped cross section has arecessed portion 26 made by hollowing out the S-pad 25 at one comer in arectangular shape. The recessed portion 26 is provided at a positioncorresponding to the packing abutting portion 24.

The S-pad 25 is formed with a hole portion 27 at a predeterminedlocation along its longitudinal direction. The hole portion 27 is forallowing a screw 35 to be inserted therethrough. To fix the screw 35, ascrew hole 28 is formed at an inner part (on the back side) of the padabutting portion 23 by tapping. Note that, in this embodiment, theout-comer frame 20 has a plurality of hollow portions 29 to reduce theweight and enhance the strength. A pair of flange portions 30constituting the pad abutting portion 23 are also provided to formopening therebetween. A portion opening between the flange portions 30run through a space portion 31. The above-described screw hole 28 isformed in the wall surface on the back side of the space portion 31.

Further, on the packing abutting portion 24, sponge packing 32 as asealing member is to abut that has a rectangular cross section as shownin FIG. 7. The sponge packing 32 is received by a plane portion 33 ofthe packing abutting portion 24 and is then covered with an end side ofa plate 34 as a panel member which is formed in a flat panel andrectangular shape. Thereafter, the S-pad 25 is laid over the end side ofthe plate 34 and secured by screwing the screw 35 into the screw hole28, whereby the plate 34 is fixed to the plate fixing portion 22.

Note that the above-described flange portions 30 are provided protrudingfurther outward than the plane portion 33. The plate 34 is normallyformed of plastic as its material. However, the material of plate 34 isnot limited to plastic, and various materials such as metal and the likemay be used.

Incidentally, curved-surface corner members (not shown) are provided atfour comers on the top surface side of the comer portions along theouter edges of the stocker apparatus 10 where the out-corner frames 20are joined together. This imparts roundness to all the comers includingthe out-comer frames 20.

The joint frames 40 are provided for joining the plates 34 and providedat outer peripheral portions other than the comer portions of thesupporting base 13. The joint frame 40 is provided with, as shown inFIG. 7, one pad abutting portion 41 and two packing abutting portions42.

On the pad abutting portion 41, a W-pad 43 as a pad member is to abut.The W-pad 43 shown in this drawing is formed in an almost T-shape, and amiddle portion 44 of the T-shape is to abut on the pad abutting portion41. Incidentally, the middle portion 44 has a positioning portion 46projectingly formed which is fitted into a gap between flange portions45 to position the W-pad 43.

In the pad abutting portion 41, the pair of flange portions 45 areprovided to form opening therebetween as in the above case, and theopening run through a space portion 47. Further, a screw hole 48 isformed in the wall surface on the back side of the space portion 47. Theflange portions 45 are also provided protruding further outward thanplane portions 50 of the packing abutting portions 42.

The packing abutting portion 42 is a portion on which sponge packing 32similar to the above-described one is to abut. An end side of the plate34 abuts on the sponge packing 32, the W-pad 43 is laid over the endside of the plate 34, and a screw 35 is screwed into the screw hole 48,whereby the plate 34 is fixedly attached to each pad abutting portion41.

Incidentally, the joint frame 40 also has a hollow portion similar tothat of the above-described out-corner frame 20. The out-corner frames20, S-pads 25, sponge packing 32, plates 34, joint frames 40, and W-pads43 constitute the outer wall constituting member.

In the above-described manner, the plates 34 are fixedly attached to aperiphery of the stocker apparatus 10 to constitute an outer peripheralwall. However, the outer wall on the front side of the stocker apparatus10 is open without being covered with the plate 34 but is insteadprovided with two open doors 60 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. Each ofthe open doors 60 is provided to be openable and closable with hinges 61attached to the out-corner frame 20 as supporting points. The open doors60 employ transparent plastic plates to allow for confirmation of thestate of the trays 11 stacked in a first tray stock section 70 and asecond tray stock section 80.

A handle 62 of each of the open doors 60 is provided on the middle ofthe one side surface of the open door 60. By grasping this handle 62 andopening the open door 60, many stacked empty trays 1 la can be carriedinto the first tray stock section 70 of the stocker apparatus 10 and theloaded trays 11 b loaded with the molded articles 12 can be carried outof the second tray stock section 80.

The plate 34 existing between the pair of open doors 60 is provided withon its upper side work confirmation switches 63, and provided with awarning light 64 above the stocker apparatus 10. This urges an operatorto perform work of carrying in and carrying out the trays 11. Operationswitches other than the work confirmation switches 63 and the warninglight 64 may be provided at these locations.

On the upper surface (top surface) of the stocker apparatus 10, as shownin FIG. 5, lid members 71 and 81 are provided on the first tray stocksection 70 side and on the second tray stock section 80 siderespectively. The lid members 71 and 81 are provided to be openable withhinges 72 and 82 as supporting points existing at the middle portions ofthe upper surface. The lid member 71 on the first tray stock section 71side is further formed with a rectangular opening 73. The opening 73 isprovided to allow the molded articles 12 to be carried into the firsttray stock section 70 therethrough, and is opened in a sizecorresponding to the molded articles 12.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a HEPA filter 83 as an aircleaning means is attached to the lid member 81 on the second tray stocksection 80 side. The HEPA filter 83 is for absorbing outside air andremoving dust exiting in the outside air. The outside air from whichdust has been removed by the HEPA filter 83 is blown downward into thesecond tray stock section 80 as described later. The air supplied intothe second tray stock section 80 after passing through the HEPA filter83 has been cleaned to be, for example, about class 1000. A part of theair passed through the HEPA filter 83 is also supplied to the first traystock section 70 through an internal clearance.

Each of the first tray stock section 70 and the second tray stocksection 80 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, such that innerwall surfaces 90 made of, for example, stainless steel as a materialform a U-shape with only the open door 60 side open. This makes thestructure, in which the empty trays 11 a and the loaded trays 11 bstacked, more insusceptible to the external atmosphere. Further, withina space between the inner wall surfaces and the plates 34 being theouter wall, various components are provided as described later.

Note that, in the following description, the inner wall surfaces 90opposing each other out of the inner wall surfaces 90 arranged in theU-shape are called inner wall side surfaces 90 a. The other inner wallsurfaces 90 arranged on the back side are called inner wall back endsurfaces 90 b. The inner wall surfaces 90 are formed to have smoothsurfaces so as to provide luster. This prevents dust from adhering tothe inner wall surfaces 90.

Rotating shafts 92 (the rotating shaft 92 in the first tray stocksection 70 is not illustrated in FIG. 6) are provided at a lower side ina space 91 (see FIG. 6) existing between the inner wall side surface 90a near the middle of the apparatus of the first tray stock section 70and the inner wall side surface 90 a near the middle of the apparatus ofthe second tray stock section 80. The rotating shaft 92 is arrangedalong the depth direction and provided to have a length from near theplate 34 on the back side of the space 91 to the front side near theopen door 60.

On both ends of the rotating shaft 92, toothed pulleys 93 are mounted.With the toothed pulley 93, a toothed belt 94 meshes which is an annularbelt. In other words, one rotating shaft 92 is configured to transmitdriving force to two toothed belts 94. These toothed belts 94 extend inthe vertical direction to mesh with toothed pulleys 93 existing at upperpositions in the vertical direction respectively.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, rotating shafts 92, toothed pulleys 93, andtoothed belts 94 similar to the above are provided also in a space 95between the inner wall side surface 90 a near the outside of theapparatus of the first tray stock section 70 and the plate 34constituting the outer wall, and in a space 95 between the inner wallside surface 90 a near the outside of the apparatus of the second traystock section 80 and the plate 34 constituting the outer wall. Note thatillustration of these mechanisms on the first tray stock section 70 sideis omitted in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, these two rotating shafts 92 and fourtoothed belts 94 support at four points a later-described tray mountingmember 130 for lifting and lowering the trays 11. Note that all thetoothed pulleys 93 are provided to have the same number of teeth, andfour toothed belts 94 to be provided in each of the first and secondtray stock sections 70 and 80 are provided to have the same lifting orlowering distance so as to be synchronized with one another. Further, inthis embodiment, eight toothed belts 94 in total have the same shape andthe same length.

To well perform the support at four points in the first tray stocksection 70 and the second tray stock section 80 surrounded by the innerwall surfaces 90, slits 96 (see FIG. 6) for leading out later-describedarms 123 from the toothed belts 94 are provided between the inner wallside surfaces 90 a and the inner wall back end surfaces 90 b. Further,slits 96 for leading out arms 123 from the toothed belts 94 are alsoprovided on the open door 60 side (front side) of the inner wall sidesurfaces 90 a.

Note that the toothed belts 94 are formed of, for example, a materialcapable of suppressing generation of dust such as a urethane resin. Thisprevents generation of dust inside the stocker apparatus 10, therebypreventing the dust from adhering to the trays 11 and the moldedarticles 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, toothed pulleys 97 are attachedto ends of the rotating shafts 92 on the back side of the back-sidetoothed pulleys 93. To the toothed pulleys 97, driving force from drivemotors 100 are transmitted via toothed pulleys 101 and toothed belts102.

The drive motors 100 generating the driving force are provided on thelower side and the back side in the first tray stock section 70 and inthe second tray stock section 80, respectively. This preventsunnecessary components from projecting outward from the stockerapparatus 10. The drive unit 100 is provided such that its one end sideenters the inside from the position of the inner wall back end surface90 b, so that the drive unit 100 can be placed under a tray moving meansfor carrying in the trays 11.

The toothed pulley 101 for driving the rotating shaft 92 near the middleof the apparatus and the toothed pulley 101 for driving the rotatingshaft 92 near the outer wall, are attached to the drive motor 100existing in each of the first tray stock section 70 and the second traystock section 80. In this embodiment, these two toothed pulleys 101 areequal in tooth pitch and attached to rotate in directions opposite toeach other.

The drive motor 100 existing in the first tray stock section 70 and thedrive motor 100 existing in the second tray stock section 80 are drivenindependently of each other to be able to lift and lower thelater-described tray mounting members 130 independently of each other.

The rotating shafts 92, the toothed pulleys 93, the toothed belts 94,the toothed pulleys 97, the drive motor 100, the toothed pulleys 101,the toothed belts 102, and the later-described arms 123 constitute alifting and lowering means.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the toothed belt 94 forms a winding round in whichboth end sides of a long belt are superposed and fixedly held. Tofixedly hold as described above, one end side 94 a of the toothed belt94 is provided in a manner to follow a first holding member 110constituting a both end fixing member.

The first holding member 110 is composed of a belt holding portion 111provided in a plate shape and a belt guide portion 112 provided on oneend side of the belt holding portion 111. The belt guide portion 112 isformed in an almost semicircular shape having a diameter larger than theplate thickness of the belt holding portion 111, and is configured suchthat the center of the diameter of the belt guide portion 112 isprovided on the plate surface of the belt holding portion 111. In thisembodiment, the radius of the belt guide portion 112 is sized tocorrespond to the plate thickness of the belt holding portion 111.

In the first holding member 110, a portion of the belt guide portion 112projecting from the plate surface of the belt holding portion 111 isarranged to face the toothed belt 94 and an end portion on theprojecting side of the belt guide portion 112 is arranged in contactwith the winding round of the stretched toothed belt 94. The beltholding portion 111 and a portion of the winding round in the verticaldirection opposing the belt holding portion 111 are arranged to bealmost parallel to each other.

In this arrangement, one end side 94 a of the toothed belt 94 isarranged following from the belt guide portion 112 toward the beltholding portion 111. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the one end side 94 a ofthe toothed belt 94 deviates from the round formed by winding of thetoothed belt 94 toward the outer peripheral side and is bent 180 degreesinto reverse winding. The one end side 94 a of the toothed belt 94 hastooth portions 94 c facing the outer peripheral side.

Incidentally, when the first holding member 10 is arranged as describedabove and the toothed belt 94 is arranged to follow it as describedabove, it is possible to prevent interruption of driving transmissioncaused by a flange portion 93 a of the toothed pulley 93 and the toothedbelt 94 interfering with the belt holding portion 111. Accordingly, awider movable range of the belt holding portion 111, that is, the arm123 can be obtained compared to the case where the belt holding portion111 is provided using a portion of the winding round of the toothed belt94 as it is.

Further, another end side 94 b of the toothed belt 94 is located outerto the outer peripheral side than the winding round of the toothed belt94 and extends in the same direction as the winding direction of thetoothed belt 94. The other end side 94 b of the toothed belt 94 isarranged with the tooth portions 94 c facing the inner peripheral sideas seen from the outside. This forms a configuration in which the otherend side 94 b meshes with the one end side 94 a of the toothed belt 94having the tooth portions 94 c facing the outer peripheral side.

To maintain this meshing state, a second holding member 120 is providedwhich constitutes the both end fixing member. The second holding member120 is also composed of a belt holding portion 121 and a belt guideportion 122. The belt holding portion 121 is provided in a plate shapesimilarly to the above-described belt holding portion 111 of the firstholding member 110. Besides, the belt guide portion 122 is formed byattaching and fixing, for example, a round bar by welding or the like atthe one end side of the belt holding portion 121.

The belt guide portion 122 is arranged in contact with the outerperipheral portion of the winding round of the stretched toothed belt94. In this case, the second holding member 120 is arranged to provide agap between the belt guide portions 112 and 122 into which the one endside 94 a and the other end side 94 b of the toothed belt 94 areinserted. The belt holding portion 111 of the first holding member 110and the belt holding portion 121 of the second holding member 120 arefixed by not-shown screws or bolts. This allows the one end side 94 aand the other end side 94 b of the toothed belt 94 to be held betweenthe belt holding portion 111 and the belt holding portion 121.Incidentally, by releasing the fixation realized by the screws or bolts,the length of winding round of the toothed belt 94 can be easilyadjusted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the arm 123 extends from the belt holdingportion 121 of the second holding member 120. The arm 123 is a portionpassed through the slit 96 and led out into each of the first tray stocksection 70 and the second tray stock section 80 surrounded by the innerwall surfaces 90. This arm 123 extends from the side of the belt holdingportion 121 in a direction of normal to the plate surface of the beltholding portion 121 and toward the toothed belt 94 side. The arm 123passed through the slit 96 (see FIG. 6) is also appropriately bent sothat it is suited for attachment and fixation to a side supportingmember 131 (see FIG. 1).

Incidentally, this arm 123 extends in a manner to be bent not tointerfere with the toothed belt 94. Further, four arms 123 are providedfor each of the first tray stock section 70 and the second tray stocksection 80 in correspondence with the four toothed belts 94 provided ineach of the first tray stock section 70 and the second tray stocksection 80. In addition, the four arms 123 extending from the toothedbelts 94 are provided to be equal in height positions in each of thefirst tray stock section 70 and the second tray stock section 80.

A guide member 124 is further attached to a plate surface of the arm 123opposite to the belt holding portion 121. The guide member 124 is forstabilizing slide of the arm 123. To stabilize the sliding, for example,fitting type guide rails 125 (see FIG. 4) are attached to the rear sideof the joint frames 40 (the inner side of the stocker apparatus 10).

The fixation of the one end side 94 a and the other end side 94 b of thetoothed belt 94 by the both end fixing member may be realized by aconfiguration shown in FIG. 8B. This configuration allows the belt to besurrounded to enable stably fixed holding thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, to the top of the arms 123, the traymounting members 130 as the tray supporting means are attached whichproject to the inside of the first tray stock section 70 and the secondtray stock section 80 surrounded by the inner wall surfaces 90. The traymounting member 130 is supported by the arms 123 and provided in analmost U-shape in appearance with only the open door 60 side open.Although the tray mounting member 130 may be configured to directlysupport the tray 11, it is configured to be capable of mounting a cartmovable mounting the tray 11 thereon in this embodiment. The traymounting member 130 is configured to support the tray 11 via the cart.

In this embodiment, the tray mounting member 130 is provided with theside supporting members 131 such that they are along the inner wall sidesurfaces 90 a and parallel to the supporting base 13. The sidesupporting member 131 couples the two arms 123 existing on each of theinner wall side surfaces 90 a. A pair of side supporting members 131existing in each of the first tray stock section 70 and the second traystock section 80 are provided to be at the same height respectively.

A back end supporting member 132 is also provided to couple the pair ofside supporting members 131 on the inner wall back end surface 90 bside. The back end supporting member 132 is coupled to the sidesupporting members 131 on the lower surface side. Incidentally, the backend supporting member 132 may be provided to be at the same height withthe side supporting members 131.

The tray 11 is supported by the tray mounting member 130 via the cart.The tray mounting member 130 is configured to be supported at fourpoints by the four toothed belts 94. The four point support as describedabove allows a heavy article such as the cart to be supported togetherwith the tray 11 even if the arm 123 has a small thickness. When thedrive motor 100 is started in the above supporting state, the traymounting member 130 is driven in the vertical direction via the toothedbelts 94. The tray mounting member 130 can be lifted and lowered in thevertical direction with the tray 11 mounted thereon.

The pair of opposing side supporting members 131 of the tray mountingmember 130 forming the U-shape are provided such that a distancetherebetween is smaller than the width of the cart (tray 11). Thisensures that the tray mounting member 130 holds the tray 11 via thecart.

As shown in FIG. 9, tray carrying mechanisms 140 (only one of them isillustrated in FIG. 9) as carrier means are provided at the upper sidein the stocker apparatus 10. The tray carrying mechanisms 140 arearranged such that a pair of toothed belts 141 are parallel to eachother on the front side (substantially above the open doors 60) and theback side (substantially above the toothed belts 102). The pair oftoothed belts 141 are straight belts having both ends respectively, andboth the ends are fixedly attached to fixing members 142 at both endsides in the width direction of the inside of the stocker apparatus 10.

The tray carrying mechanism 140 has a clamping device 143. The clampingdevice 143 has a base 144, and a pair of driven pulleys 145 arerotatably attached to both end sides of the base 144. The toothed belt141 is stretched between the pair of driven pulleys 145 with toothportions 141 a facing outward.

At positions on both end sides of the base 144 apart from its center bya predetermined distance, rotating shafts 146 are provided in a mannerto pass it, respectively. To the lower end side of the rotating shaft146, one end side of a plate-shaped clamping claw 147 is attached whichis formed in a rectangle. This makes it possible that when the rotatingshaft 146 is rotated, the clamping claw 147 projects to the inside ofthe first tray stock section 70 and the second tray stock section 80 orretracts from the projecting state.

To the upper end side of the rotating shaft 146, one end side of arectangular intermediate member 148 is attached. The intermediate member148 extends in a direction to form an angle of, for example, about 45degrees with respect to a direction in which the clamping claw 147extends. In addition, the intermediate member 148 extends in a diagonaldirection between the longitudinal direction of the base 144 and thedepth direction of the stocker apparatus 10, where the clamping claw 147is housed with the longitudinal direction of the clamping claw 147matching the longitudinal direction of the base 144.

To the other end side of the intermediate member 148, one end side of acoupling arm 149 is coupled. On the one end side of the coupling arm149, a ball bearing (not shown) is provided so that the coupling arm 149is rotatably coupled. This coupling arm 149 is a long member in a rodshape, and its other end side is similarly attached to a rotating member150 via a ball bearing.

The rotating member 150 is coupled to a rotating shaft 151. The rotatingshaft 151 is fed with driving force by an air compressor 152 as adriving source for the rotating shaft 151. Incidentally, a not-showntube and an air device 153 (see FIG. 3) via the tube are connected tothe air compressor 152 to allow air to be fed to the air compressor 152.As the driving source, a motor electrically driven may be used in placeof the air compressor 152.

Further, an operating body 154 for a sensor which senses the clampingposition or the clamping release position of the tray 11. This operatingbody 154 is used for a reflection-type optical sensor, and additionallya light transmission-type sensor or a touch sensor may be used.

The clamping device 143 described above is supported on the stretchedtoothed belt 141 via the above-described pair of driven pulleys 145. Thetoothed belt 141 is stretched, as shown in FIG. 9, around a drivingpulley 155 a to which driving force is transmitted from a drive motor155 as a driving source. More specifically, the toothed belt 141 fixedto the fixing member 142 on the one end side is engaged with the drivenpulley 145 to be turned 180 degrees by the driven pulley 145. Thetoothed belt 141 is then engaged with a driving pulley 156 and is turned180 degrees again after passing the driving pulley 156 into the samedirection as the initial direction in which the toothed belt 141 travelsfrom the fixing member 142 on the one end side toward the driven pulley145.

Incidentally, the driving force from the drive motor 155 is transmitted,as shown in FIG. 9, to the driving pulley 156 via a pulley 155 a, atransmission belt 157 stretched around the pulley 155 a, a pulley 158,and a rotating shaft 158 a connecting the pulley 158 and the drivingpulley 156.

The toothed belt 141 is engaged with a driven pulley 159 with a largediameter existing on the other end side, and turned 180 degrees by thedriven pulley 159 toward the one end side. The driven pulley 159 is notfed with driving force but for guiding travel of the toothed belt 141.The toothed belt 141 passing the driven pulley 159 is stretched aroundthe driven pulley 145 attached to the base 144. The toothed belt 141 isturned again into a reverse direction by the driven pulley 145, and itsother end is fixed by the fixing member 142 on the other end side.

Further, an ionizer 160 which jets ionized air is provided, as shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, on the upper side of the space 91 existing betweenthe inner wall side surface 90 a near the middle of the apparatus in thefirst tray stock section 70 and the inner wall side surface 90 a nearthe middle of apparatus in the second tray stock section 80 (at a lowersurface of a middle frame 30 a being an upper surface panel existingbetween the lid members 71 and 81). The ionizer 160 is for jettingionized air to ionize the air into positive ions and negative ions via apositive discharge needle and a negative discharge needle. Thus, theionizer 160 has a not-shown ion generator near an air jetting part.

The ionizer 160 also has a pipe-shaped member 161. The pipe-shapedmember 161 is provided to be hollow so as to allow air to passtherethrough. The pipe-shaped member 161 is provided long enough to havea length over the whole inside of the stocker apparatus 10 in the depthdirection.

The pipe-shaped member 161 is also formed with many jetting holes 162(see FIG. 1) to allow air to be jetted almost evenly toward the firsttray stock section 70 (the jetting direction is a direction shown byarrows in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5). The jetted air will include thepositive ions and negative ions by means of the ion generator generatinga high voltage located near the jetting holes 162.

The ion generators include a DC-type and an AC-type either of which maybe used as long as it generates positive ions and negative ions in goodbalance. Although the AC-type generator normally provides better ionbalance, the DC-type generator generates a large amount of ions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, an exhaust fan 170 is providedin the side surface where the opening 73 is located and at a middleheight position on the outer side wall formed by the plate 34. Theexhaust fan 170 is for exhausting the ionized air fed by theabove-described ionizer 160 to the outside. When the exhaust fan 170 isdriven, the air jetted from the jetting holes 162 of the pipe-shapedmember 161 is ionized and then passes, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,under the lid member 71, while forming a flow passage (hereinafter,referred to as a destaticizing blow portion 171) parallel to the lidmember 71.

The ionized air then mainly proceeds within the space 95 between theinner wall side surface 90 a and the plate 34 being the outer wall bysuction force of the exhaust fan 170. The air proceeding within thespace 95 reaches the exhaust fan 170 and is exhausted to the outside bythe exhaust fan 170. A space surrounded by the plate 34, the inner wallside surface 90 a, two inner plates 40 a (the inner plates 40 a areprovided parallel to the joint frames 40), and a partition plate 40 bhorizontally laid at almost the middle of the side surface, iscompletely surrounded other than its upper portion, so that the ionizedair entering from above can be efficiently exhausted by the exhaust fan170.

The stocker apparatus 10 also has, as shown in FIG. 3, a controller 180as a control means. The controller 180 is electrically connected tovarious driving means such as the drive motors 100 and 154, the aircompressor 152, and so on, and the sensors 154 and so on to be able tocontrol these various driving means following an operation progressprogram determined by the controller 180.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 11 used in this embodiment has two recessedportions 11 c respectively, which the clamping claws 147 can enter, oneach of the back side and the front side. The upper surface of therecessed portion 11 c forms a locking portion 11 d which can bemountable on the clamping claw 147. When the tray mounting member 130lowers after the clamping claws 147 enter the recessed portions 11 c,that is, after clamping operation, the clamping claws 147 lock thelocking portions 11 d so that the tray 11 is not detached from theclamping claws 147, thus grasping the tray 11.

The operation of the stocker apparatus 10 having the above-describedconfiguration will be described below.

The operator first opens the open door 60 and pushes by hand an emptycart into the second tray stock section 80. The operator confirms thatonly the cart is located and no loaded tray 11 b exists in the secondtray stock section 80. In addition, the operator mounts many empty trays11 a on a cart and pushes by hand the cart into the first tray stocksection 70. This makes the stocker apparatus 10 ready to operate. Inthis state, each tray mounting member 130 is lifted so that each of thecarts is mounted on each tray mounting member 130.

In this case, the tray mounting member 130 is lifted or lowered so thatthe empty tray 11 a located at the uppermost tier is positioned at aprescribed height. Normally, in order to mount a largest number of emptytrays 11 a on the tray mounting member 130, the empty tray 11 a locatedat the uppermost tier of the largest number of stacked empty trays 11 ais positioned at the prescribed height when the tray mounting member 130is located at the lowermost position. The operation of positioning atthe prescribed height the empty tray 11 a located at the uppermost tieris controlled through use of the light reflection-type sensor locatedbeside the empty tray 11 a which senses whether an empty tray 11 aexists or not.

The tray mounting member 130 is supported by the four arms 123 fixedlyattached indirectly to the four toothed belts 94. In this case, the fourtoothed belts 94 are provided to synchronize with one another, allowingthe empty tray 11 a and the loaded tray 11 b mounted on the traymounting members 130 to be kept in horizontal state at all times.

Incidentally, in each of the empty trays 11 a, a small tray (a tray withpartitions in a grid may also be used) is previously arranged which isinternally used by a user using the stocker apparatus 10. This smalltray is smaller than the empty tray 11 a (see FIG. 5). It is alsopossible to provide a partition in the empty tray 11 a itself so as notto locate in the empty tray 11 a the tray under inside specifications.

When the molded article 12 made of resin or the like is molded by amolding device (not shown) existing in the external part after thestocker apparatus 10 becomes ready to operate, the molded article 12 isgrasped by a carrier robot (not shown) similarly provided in theexternal part. The molded article 12 then passes through the opening 73of the lid member 71 and is loaded on the empty tray 11 a by means ofthe carrier robot.

During the process of the molded article 12 being loaded on the emptytray 11 a, the molded article 12 passes through the destaticizing blowportion 171. Therefore, positive charges causing the surface of themolded article 12 to be susceptible to dust adhesion are removed bypassing the molded article 12 through the destaticizing blow portion 171formed of air positively and negatively ionized. When dust electricallyadheres to the molded article 12, the dust is removed electrically or byair pressure when the molded article 12 passes through the destaticizingblow portion 171. If ozone is generated, the molded article 12 is alsosterilized.

When a predetermined number of molded articles 12 passed through thedestaticizing blow portion 171 are loaded on the empty tray 11 a, theclamping devices 143 are driven toward the first tray stock section 70,and the clamping claws 147 are turned 90 degrees from their housed stateto enter the recessed portions 11 c of the empty tray 11 a existing atthe uppermost tier (the latest loaded tray 11 b by loading). When theclamping claws 147 enter the recessed portions 11 c, the tray mountingmember 130 lowers by a predetermined amount. This lowering amount refersto an amount to a position where the loaded tray 11 b at the uppermosttier is released from stacking with the empty tray 11 a at the nexthighest position and the loaded tray 11 b when horizontally carriednever interferes with the empty tray 11 a at the next highest position.

The clamping devices 143 then move toward the second tray stock section80. In the second tray stock section 80, the tray mounting member 130 iswaiting at a waiting position being at the lowermost tier for receivingthe loaded tray 11 b. When the clamping devices 143 reach a deliveryposition of the loaded tray 11 b, the tray mounting member 130 is liftedto come into light contact with the lower surface of the loaded tray 11b being a surface to be loaded on the cart.

In this state, the clamping devices 143 turn the clamping claws 147 tohouse them, thereby releasing clamping. Thus, holding of the loaded tray11 b by the clamping devices 143 is released and delivery of the loadedtray 11 b to the tray mounting member 130 by the clamping devices 143 isfinished.

Incidentally, after the loaded tray 11 b is delivered, the tray mountingmember 130 existing in the second tray stock section 80 lowers by onetier to be ready for loading of a next loaded tray 11 b.

The second tray stock section 80 to which the loaded tray 11 b has beendelivered is fed with clean air which has been cleaned by passingthrough the HEPA filter 83. In addition to that, air existing inside thestocker apparatus 10 is exhausted from the clearance included in thestocker apparatus 10, in particular, from the lower portion since itslower portion is open. This clean air is set, for example, to be aboutclass 1000. Accordingly, the second tray stock section 80 is filled withthe clean air at all times, so that it is kept cleaned, unlike theexternal atmosphere.

After repetition of the above-described loading and carrying operationsof the trays 11, there is no more empty tray 11 a in the first traystock section 70 and the second tray stock section 80 is filled with theloaded trays 11 b. In this case, the warning light 64 operates to turnon, thereby warning the operator. The operator then mounts apredetermined number of new empty trays 11 a stacked one on the other onthe tray mounting member 130 via the cart in the first tray stocksection 70. The operator also takes out the loaded trays 11 b, whichhave been loaded and stacked one on the other, together with the cartfrom the second tray stock section 80 and carries them to apredetermined position.

Preferably, a cover is put over the loaded tray 11 b at the uppermosttier for carriage of the loaded trays 11 b. This can prevent dust fromadhering to the loaded tray 11 b at the uppermost tier and the loadedmolded articles 12.

It is also preferable to move the stocker apparatus 10 as a whole to thepredetermined position through a device such as provision of wheels onthe stocker apparatus 10 or the like. It is also possible to transfer tothe cart the trays 11 b to be directly mounted on the tray mountingmember 130 or to mount the trays 11 a on the tray mounting member 130,instead of mounting the trays 11 a and 11 b together with the carts forcarrying them into the first tray stock section 70 and the second traystock section 80.

Incidentally, sound may be reported with the lighting of the warninglight 64. Further, when the operator confirms the work, the operatorpushes the work confirmation switch 63. This can prevent a mistake incarriage of the trays 11.

With the stocker apparatus 10 thus configured, the plates 34 and the lidmembers 71 and 81 shied the stocker apparatus 10 from the externalatmosphere so that its inside is surrounded by them. Accordingly, it ispossible to prevent the dust from adhering to the trays 11 stocked inthe first tray stock section 70 and the second tray stock section 80, ifthe external atmosphere has a large amount of dust. It is also possibleto prevent the dust from adhering to the molded articles 12 loaded onthe trays 11.

By preventing dust from adhering to the trays 11 and the molded articles12 as described above, when the molded articles 12 are those, forexample, for treating food such as egg cases, they can be kept in a goodsanitary condition. In addition, by preventing adhesion of dust,bacteria existing in the dust can be prevented from adhering to thetrays 11 and the molded articles 12. Even when the molded articles 12are precision components, cleaning of them can be omitted or simplified.

Besides, the plates 34 are attached to the frames 20 and 40 via thesponge packing 32. This more surely seals the inside of the stockerapparatus 10 to prevent dust from entering the stocker apparatus 10.Thus, the stocker apparatus 10 in this embodiment is configured to keepair tightness using the sponge packing 32 to prevent dust from enteringit, ensuring that the trays 11 and the molded articles 12 existingtherein can be stocked in a clean state.

The lid member 71 is provided with the opening 73 through which themolded articles 12 are carried to the empty trays 11 a existing in thefirst tray stock section 70. In this case, the carriage of the moldedarticles 12 to the empty trays 12 a can be performed with ease and theopening required to carry in the molded articles 12 can be minimized.

The ionizer 160 is further provided near the opening 73 of the stockerapparatus 10. This allows the molded articles 12 to pass through thedestaticizing blow portion 171 when passing through the opening 73.Therefore, the ionized air is blown to the molded articles 12 from whichelectricity is eliminated so that dust becomes hard to adhere to themolded articles 12, thus removing dust adhering to the molded articles12. In particular, charged dust is well removed by the ionized air.

If ozone is generated in addition to the ionized air, the ozone could beblown to the products 12 to sterilize them.

Further, the lid member 81 at the upper portion of the second tray stocksection 80 is provided with the HEPA filter 83. Provision of the HEPAfilter 83 can clean air taken in from the outside. In this embodiment,the air is cleaned to about class 1000. The air is fed into the secondtray stock section 80 after the cleaning treatment is performed asdescribed above, the second tray stock section 80 can keep itsatmosphere clean.

By keeping the atmosphere in the second tray stock section 80 clean,dust can be prevented from adhering to the loaded trays 11 b and themolded articles 12 loaded on the loaded trays 11 b. Further, the cleanedair also flows into the first tray stock section 70 via clearances, sothat the atmosphere in the first tray stock section 70 can also be keptclean.

Besides, one end side and the other end side of the toothed belt 94 aresuperposed and fixedly held between the first holding member 110 and thesecond holding member 120, whereby the toothed belt 94 forms an annularbelt. The first holding member 110 and the second holding member 120 areused to fixedly hold a straight belt with its both ends superposed,whereby the belt length of the toothed belt 94 being the annular beltcan be freely set and arbitrarily adjusted. This eliminates thenecessity to use an expensive endless toothed belt, resulting in reducedcost.

The both end fixing member composed of the first holding member 110 andthe second holding member 120 is located outside the winding round ofthe annular toothed belt 94. This can prevent the both end fixing memberfrom interfering with the toothed pulley 93. By prevention ofinterference between the toothed pulley 93 and the both end fixingmember, the driving distance of the toothed belt 94 to which the traymounting member 130 is attached can be increased. This improves thespace efficiency in the stocker apparatus 10, which allows much moretrays 11 to be stocked therein. In addition, the effective use of thespace in the stocker apparatus 10 can also lead to a reduction in sizeof the stocker apparatus 10.

As the straight belt, the toothed belt 94 having the tooth portions 94 cthereon is used such that the one end side 94 a of the toothed belt 94is bent 180 degrees toward the opposite direction and then superposed onthe other end side 94 b of the toothed belt 94 to be held by the beltholding portion 111 of the first holding member 110 and the belt holdingportion 120 of the second holding member 120.

As described above, the straight belt is used as the toothed belt 94whose one end side 94 a is bent 180 degrees and then one end side 94 aand the other end side 94 b are superposed, so that the tooth portions94 c on the one end side 94 a and the tooth portions 94 c on the otherend side 94 b mesh with each other without gap therebetween. Suchholding after the superposition allows the tooth portions 94 c in meshto prevent slippage of the toothed belt 94. In addition, the space wherethe one end side 94 a and the other end side 94 b are superposed can bereduced.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described,various modifications can also be made in the present invention inaddition to the above. They will be described below.

Although the stocker apparatus 10 in the above-described embodimentcomprises all of the outer wall constituting member, the HEPA filter 83,the ionizer 160, sealing of the plates 34 by the sponge packing 32, andthe toothed belt 94 formed in an annular shape formed by holding bothends of a straight belt, the stocker apparatus 10 may comprise at leastonly one or some plural components of them. A structure, which can wellshield the inside of the stocker apparatus 10 from the outside, providescleaning effects and therefore may have any configuration for otherparts.

In the above-described embodiment, the tray mounting member 130 isformed in a U-shape. This mounting member 130, however, is not limitedto that formed in the U-shape, but may employ a flat plate or may becomposed of only a pair of side supporting members 131, and otherwisecan be variously modified.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating shafts 92, thetoothed pulleys 93, the toothed belts 94, the toothed pulleys 97, thedrive motor 100, the toothed pulleys 101, the toothed belts 102, and thelater-described arms 123 constitute the lifting and lowering means. Thelifting and lowering means is not limited to this but, for example, ahydraulic jack or the like may be used, and any other means may beemployed as long as it can well lift and lower the tray mounting member130.

Besides, the tray carrying mechanism 140 is not limited to theabove-described configuration, but may employ any configuration as longas it is movable while clamping the tray 11. An example of aconfiguration of the other tray carrying mechanism is a rail provided atthe upper side of the stocker apparatus 10 along which a clampingmechanism like the clamping device 143 travels by itself.

Further, the stocker apparatus 10 solely used is described in theabove-described embodiment which has one each of the first tray stocksection 70 for the empty trays 11 a and the second tray stock section 80for the loaded trays 11 b. The stocker apparatus 10, however, is notlimited to the case where it is solely used, but a plurality of stockerapparatuses 10 may be connected for use, with one stocker apparatus 10being regarded as one module. When many stocker apparatuses 10 areconnected, many molded articles 12 can be simultaneously loaded on thetrays 11 and many kinds of molded articles 12 can be loaded on the trays11 separately by kinds of the molded articles 12.

Although the structure in which the opening 73 is formed in the lidmember 71 is described in the above-described embodiment, the opening 73may be formed, for example, in the inner wall back end surface 90 b, orthe molded articles 12 may be loaded on the tray 11 after the open door60 is opened.

Further, the HEPA filter 83 is used as the air cleaning means in theabove-described embodiment, but the air cleaning means is not limited tothe HEPA filter 83, and for example, a water jet-type air cleaning meansmay be used.

Although the toothed belt 94 is used in the above-described embodiment,a V-belt or a chain may be used instead of using the toothed belt 94.Further, it is not necessary to use the toothed belt 94 composed of thestraight belt, but a toothed belt 94 may be used which is previouslyformed into an annular belt. The configuration of the both end fixingmeans that fixes both ends of the toothed belt 94 is not limited to aconfiguration to hold them using the above-described first holdingmember 110 and second holding member 120. For example, the one end side94 a is simply bent, the other end side 94 b is laid over it, and bothends of the toothed belt 94 are simply held between two metal plateswhich are clamped by screws.

In the above-described embodiment, the case in which the products arethe molded articles 12 made of resin is described. The stocker apparatus10, however, can be used for products including, but not limited to themolded articles 12 made of resin, various kinds of products such asvarious precision electronic components and precision mechanicalcomponents, ceramic products, optical components, and so on.

Besides, in the above-described embodiment, the trays 11 at theuppermost tiers are completely housed in the first tray stock section 70and the second tray stock section 80 (see FIG. 2). However, the tray 11at the uppermost tier may be lifted up to a position where its top endis almost flush with the upper surface of the opening 73. When the tray11 at the uppermost tier may be lifted up such that its top end isalmost flush with the upper surface with the opening 73, the productscan be stocked on the tray 11 without using the carrier robot.

More specifically, if the tray 11 is not lifted up to the position wherethe top is flush with the upper surface, unlike the above arrangement,the products molded or the like will be once mounted on a productstorage place, and then put into (stocked in) the tray 11 using thecarrier robot. In other words, when the carrier robot is not used, theproduct extracted by an extractor is mounted on the tray 11 at theuppermost tier of stacked trays 11 in a manner to be dropped thereinto,which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the tray 11 is lifted upto the position where the top is flush with the upper surface asdescribed above, it becomes possible, in loading the products into thetray 11, to easily mount the products on the tray 11 at the uppermosttier, without dropping, only by a standard extractor without using thecarrier robot.

Incidentally, when the tray 11 at the uppermost tier is lifted up to theposition where its top is almost flush with the upper surface of theopening 73, the attachment position of the ionizer 160 may be moved toan upper position. This arrangement allows the ionized air to be wellblown to the molded articles 12 so as to eliminate electricity from themolded articles, thereby removing dust.

Besides, the configuration in which the first tray stock section 70 andthe second tray stock section 80 are laterally arranged as shown in FIG.5 (the configuration in which long longitudinal portions are arrangedadjacent and in parallel to each other) is described in theabove-described embodiment. The stocker apparatus 10, however, may beconfigured such that the first tray stock section 70 and the second traystock section 80 are, for example, longitudinally arranged as shown inFIG. 10 (the configuration in which short lateral portions are arrangedadjacent and in parallel to each other). Incidentally, each open door 60is configured to be opened folded in two in the stocker apparatus 10shown in FIG. 10.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

The stocker apparatus of the present invention can prevent dust fromadhering to the trays stocked in the first tray stock section and thesecond tray stock section even when the external atmosphere contains alarge amount of dust. Further, it is also possible to prevent the dustfrom adhering to the products loaded on the empty tray.

Further, the opening is provided at a part of an area formed by theouter wall constituting member, whereby the opening portion runningthrough the outside can be minimized.

Further, the ionizer is provided near the opening, thereby removing thedust adhering to the products. In particular, dust apt to adhere tocharged products no longer adheres to the products by eliminatingelectricity from the products by the ionized air. Further, the ionizedair can also be used to perform sterilization treatment on the products.

Further, in the second tray stock section, the cleaned air movesdownward from above, thus keeping the atmosphere therein clean.

Further, in the stocker apparatus of the present invention, the outerwall constituting member can seal the inside of the stocker apparatuswithout generating dust from screw holes and so on when panel membersare attached. This can prevent dust from entering the inside of thestocker apparatus from the outside and the panel member portion, thusstocking the trays and the products loaded on the trays in a cleanstate.

Further, in the stocker apparatus of the present invention, the both endfixing member is used to fixedly hold the straight belt with its bothends superposed, whereby the belt length of the annular belt can befreely set by arbitrarily adjusting the length where the one end sideand the other end side are superposed. This eliminates the necessity touse an endless belt which is initially formed in an annular shape,resulting in reduced cost relative to use of the endless belt.

Further, the both end fixing member can be located outside the windinground of the annular belt to prevent the both end fixing member frominterfering with the pulley around which the annular belt is stretched.As a result of this, the driving distance of the annular belt to whichthe tray supporting means is attached can be increased. This improvesthe size efficiency of the stocker apparatus, which allows much moretrays to be stocked therein. In addition, the stocker apparatus can bereduced in size.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described inconjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be readilyappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changesmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims beinterpreted as including the embodiments described herein, thealternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.

1. A stocker apparatus comprising: a first tray stock section capable ofstocking a plurality of empty trays; a second tray stock section capableof stocking a plurality of loaded trays, the loaded trays being theempty trays loaded with products; tray supporting means provided in saidfirst tray stock section and said second tray stock section respectivelyfor supporting the trays; lifting and lowering means for lifting andlowering said tray supporting means; and carrier means for carrying theloaded tray to said second tray stock section when the products areloaded on the empty tray existing in said first tray stock section, saidapparatus further comprising: an outer wall constituting member coveringat least side surfaces and upper surfaces of said first trays stocksection and said second tray stock section to separate said first traystock section and said second tray stock section from an externalatmosphere; an opening provided at an upper portion of said first traystock section, said opening allowing the products to be carried intherethrough; an ionizer provided near said opening and disposed betweenthe first tray stock and the second tray stock, said ionizer jettingionized air to the products carried in through said opening by jettingionized air from the ionizer in a horizontal direction and in adiagonally downward direction towards said opening, said horizontaldirection being opposite to a direction of transport of the products andsaid jetting being from a side of said opening near said ionizer to theother side of said opening so as to remove contaminants and dust fromthe transported products and said ionized air passing under a lidmember, while forming a flow passage parallel to the lid member, andthen mainly proceeds within a space disposed between an inner wall sidesurface and a plate being the outer wall by suction force of an exhaustfan, so that the air proceeding within the space reaches the exhaust fanand is exhausted to an outside of the stocker apparatus by the exhaustfan, the products then being loaded on the empty tray; and an aircleaning means provided at an upper portion of said second tray stocksection, said air cleaning means cleaning outside air and thenintroducing the air into said second tray stock section, wherein theproducts that are loaded on the empty tray existing in said first traystock section are carried within the loaded tray to said second traystock section, and are stocked in said second tray stock section thathas air cleaned by said air cleaning means.
 2. The stocker apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said outer wall constituting memberincludes a frame, an elastically deformable sealing member abutting onthe frame in a longitudinal direction thereof, a panel member abuttingon the sealing member, and a pad member abutting on the panel member ina manner to cover an outer edge thereof and fixedly attached to a framemember to thereby elastically hold the panel member with the sealingmember therebetween.
 3. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1,wherein each of said lifting and lowering means has four annular beltsfor supporting each of said tray supporting means at four points, theannular belt being formed by superposing one end on another end of astraight belt having both the ends and fixedly holding the ends by aboth end fixing member, and the both end fixing member being locatedoutside a winding round of the annular belt.
 4. The stocker apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the straight belt is a straight toothedbelt, and one end side or another end side of the straight toothed beltis bent 180degrees and then the one end side and the other end side aresuperposed and fixedly held by the both end fixing member.
 5. A stockerapparatus comprising: a first tray stock section capable of stocking aplurality of empty trays; a second tray stock section capable ofstocking a plurality of loaded trays, the loaded trays being the emptytrays loaded with products; tray supporting means provided in said firsttray stock section and said second tray stock section respectively forsupporting the trays; lifting and lowering means for lifting andlowering said tray supporting means; carrier means for carrying theloaded tray to said second tray stock section when the products areloaded on the empty tray existing in said first tray stock section; andan air cleaning means provided at an upper portion of said second trackstock section, said air cleaning means cleaning outside air and thenintroducing the air into said second tray stock section, said apparatusfurther comprising: an outer wall constituting member covering at leastside surfaces and upper surfaces of said first trays stock section andsaid second tray stock section to separate said first tray stock sectionand said second tray stock section from an external atmosphere; anopening provided at an upper portion of said first tray stock section,said opening allowing the products to be carried in therethrough; and anionizer provided near said opening and disposed between the first traystock and the second tray stock, said ionizer jetting ionized air to theproducts carried in through said opening by jetting ionized air from theionizer in a horizontal direction and in a diagonally downward directiontowards said opening, said horizontal direction being opposite to adirection of transport of the products and said jetting being from aside of said opening near said ionizer to the other side of said openingso as to remove contaminants and dust from the transported products andsaid ionized air passing under a lid member, while forming a flowpassage parallel to the lid member, and then mainly proceeds within aspace disposed between an inner wall side surface and a plate being theouter wall by suction force of an exhaust fan, so that the airproceeding within the space reaches the exhaust fan and is exhausted toan outside of the stocker apparatus by the exhaust fan, the productsthen being loaded on the empty tray, wherein said outer wallconstituting member includes a frame, an elastically deformable sealingmember abutting on the frame in a longitudinal direction thereof, apanel member abutting on the sealing member, and a pad member abuttingon the panel member in a manner to cover an outer edge thereof andfixedly attached to a frame member to thereby elastically hold the panelmember with the sealing member therebetween, and the products that areloaded on the empty tray existing in said first tray stock section arecarried within the loaded tray to said second tray stock section, andare stocked in said second tray stock section that has air cleaned bysaid air cleaning means.